Method and apparatus for transmitting data in wireless LAN system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for transmitting data in a wireless LAN system. The method for transmitting data comprises the steps of: generating a discontinuation request frame for requesting discontinuation of transmitting a data frame from a master-access point to a relay device; and transmitting the discontinuation request frame to the master-access point. As a result, the occurrence of a buffer overflow in the relay device can be prevented.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to data transmission technology in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for transmitting data to an end terminal in a WLAN system including a relay device.

BACKGROUND ART

With the development of information and communication technology, various wireless communication technologies have been developed. Among these technologies, a wireless local area network (WLAN) denotes technology for allowing wireless access to the Internet in homes, businesses or specific service areas using a mobile terminal such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a portable multimedia player (PMP), a smart phone, or a tablet PC, based on radio frequency (RF) technology.

Standards for WLAN technology have been developed as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards. WLAN technology conforming to the IEEE 802.11a standard is operated based on an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) scheme, and is capable of providing a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps in a 5 GHz band. WLAN technology conforming to the IEEE 802.11b standard is operated based on a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) scheme, and is capable of providing a maximum data rate of 11 Mbps in a 2.4 GHz band. WLAN technology conforming to the IEEE 802.11g standard is operated based on the OFDM or DSSS scheme, and is capable of providing a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps in a 2.4 GHz band.

WLAN technology conforming to the IEEE 802.11n standard is operated based on the OFDM scheme in a 2.4 GHz band and a 5 GHz band, and is capable of providing a maximum data rate of 300 Mbps for four spatial streams when a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output OFDM (MIMO-OFDM) scheme is used. WLAN technology conforming to the IEEE 802.11n standard may support a channel bandwidth of up to 40 MHz and is capable of providing a maximum data rate of 600 Mbps in that case.

As the popularization of such WLAN technology has been activated and applications using WLANs have been diversified, the requirement for new WLAN technology that supports throughput higher than that of existing WLAN technology is increasing. Very high throughput (VHT) WLAN technology is proposed technology that supports a data rate of 1 Gbps or more. Meanwhile, in a system based on such WLAN technology, a problem arises in that, as the distance between WLAN devices increases, communication efficiency is deteriorated.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

An object of the present invention to solve the above problems is to provide a data transmission method for improving the efficiency of a WLAN system.

Another object of the present invention to solve the above problems is to provide a data transmission apparatus for improving the efficiency of a WLAN system.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention to accomplish the above objects, a communication system based on WLAN technology includes a certain terminal acting as a relay device for relaying data transmitted between a master access point and an end terminal.

Here, a data transmission method performed by the relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes generating a suspend request frame that requests suspension of transmission of a data frame from the master access point to the relay device, and transmitting the suspend request frame to the master access point.

Here, the suspend request frame may be an acknowledge (ACK) frame that is a response to a data frame received from the master access point, and the ACK frame may include information indicating that the relay device is operated in a doze mode.

Here, the suspend request frame may be a null data frame that includes information indicating that the relay device is operated in a doze mode.

Here, the suspend request frame may include information about a suspend duration during which transmission of a data frame is suspended.

A data transmission method performed by a relay device according to another embodiment of the present invention to accomplish the above objects includes generating a resume request frame that requests resumption of transmission of a data frame from a master access point to the relay device, and transmitting the resume request frame to the master access point.

Here, the data transmission method may further include receiving a data frame, as a response to the resume-request frame, from the master access point, and transmitting an acknowledge (ACK) frame, as a response to the data frame, to the master access point.

Here, the resume request frame may be a power save (PS)-Poll frame or a trigger frame indicating that the relay device is operated in an awake mode.

Here, the resume request frame may be a null data frame that includes information indicating that the relay device is operated in an awake mode.

Here, transmitting the resume request frame to the master access point may be configured to transmit the resume request frame to the master access point when it is determined that data to be transmitted to the relay device is buffered in the master access point, based on a beacon frame received from the master access point.

Advantageous Effects

In accordance with the present invention, the wireless transmission efficiency of a WLAN system can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a station for performing methods according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of a WLAN system conforming to IEEE 802.11;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a terminal association procedure in an infrastructure BSS;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the infrastructure BSS of a WLAN system;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a hierarchical AID structure;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the structure of a TIM information element (IE);

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the structure of a TIM encoded on a block basis;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing an embodiment of a data transmission/reception procedure;

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a WLAN system including relay devices;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the logical configuration of a relay device;

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram showing a first data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram showing a second data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to a further embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 18 is a conceptual diagram showing a data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

The present invention may be variously changed and may have various embodiments, and specific embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

However, it should be understood that those embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to specific disclosure forms and they include all changes, equivalents or modifications included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The terms such as “first” and “second” may be used to describe various components, but those components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are merely used to distinguish one component from other components. A first component may be designated as a second component and a second component may be designated as a first component in the similar manner, without departing from the scope based on the concept of the present invention. The term “and/or” includes a combination of a plurality of related items or any of the plurality of related items.

It should be understood that a representation indicating that a first component is “connected” or “coupled” to a second component may include the case where the first component is connected or coupled to the second component with some other component interposed therebetween, as well as the case where the first component is “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to the second component. In contrast, it should be understood that a representation indicating that a first component is “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to a second component means that no component is interposed between the first and second components.

The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. A singular expression includes a plural expression unless a description to the contrary is specifically pointed out in context. In the present specification, it should be understood that the terms such as “include” or “have” are merely intended to indicate that features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof are present, and are not intended to exclude a possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof will be present or added.

Unless differently defined, all terms used here including technical or scientific terms have the same meanings as the terms generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The terms identical to those defined in generally used dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings identical to contextual meanings of the related art, and are not interpreted as being ideal or excessively formal meanings unless they are definitely defined in the present specification.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. For easy understanding of the entire part of the invention in the following description of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar elements throughout the drawings, and repeated descriptions of the same components will be omitted.

Throughout the present specification, a station (STA) denotes any functional medium that includes medium access control (MAC) conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standards and a physical layer interface for a wireless medium. Stations may be classified into a station (STA) that is an access point (AP) and a station (STA) that is a non-AP. The station that is an AP may be simply called an access point (AP), and the station that is a non-AP may be simply called a terminal.

A ‘station (STA)’ may include a processor and a transceiver, and may further include a user interface, a display device, etc. The processor denotes a unit devised to generate a frame to be transmitted over a wireless network or process a frame received over the wireless network, and may perform various functions to control the station (STA). The transceiver denotes a unit that is functionally connected to the processor and is devised to transmit and receive a frame over the wireless network for the station (STA).

An ‘access Point (AP)’ may denote a centralized controller, a base station (BS), a radio access station, a Node B, an evolved Node B, a relay, a Mobile Multihop Relay (MMR)-BS, a Base Transceiver System (BTS), a site controller, etc., and may include some or all of the functions thereof.

A ‘terminal (i.e. non-AP)’ may denote a Wireless Transmit/Receive Unit (WTRU), User Equipment (UE), a User Terminal (UT), an Access Terminal (AT), a Mobile Station (MS), a mobile terminal, a subscriber unit, a Subscriber Station (SS), a wireless device, a mobile subscriber unit, etc., and may include some or all of the functions thereof.

Here, the terminal may denote a desktop computer capable of communication, a laptop computer, a tablet PC, a wireless phone, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a smart watch, smart glasses, an e-book reader, a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a portable game console, a navigation device, a digital camera, a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) player, a digital audio recorder, a digital audio player, a digital picture recorder, a digital picture player, a digital video recorder, a digital video player, etc.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a station for performing methods according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a station 10 may include at least one processor 11, memory 12, and a network interface device 13 connected to a network 20 and configured to perform communication. The station 10 may further include an input interface device 14, an output interface device 15, and a storage device 16. The components included in the station 10 may be connected to each other through a bus 17, and may then perform communication with each other.

The processor 11 may execute program instructions stored in the memory 12 and/or the storage device 16. The processor 11 may denote a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or an exclusive processor for performing the methods according to the present invention. Each of the memory 12 and the storage device 16 may be implemented as a volatile storage medium and/or a nonvolatile storage medium. For example, the memory 12 may be implemented as read only memory (ROM) and/or random access memory (RAM).

The embodiments of the present invention are applied to a WLAN system conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standards, and may also be applied to other communication systems as well as the WLAN system conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standards.

For example, the embodiments of the present invention may be applied to the mobile Internet such as a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), a Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN), Wireless Broadband Internet (WiBro), or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), a second generation (2G) mobile communication network such as a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), a 3G mobile communication network such as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) or CDMA2000, a 3.5G mobile communication network such as High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) or High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), a 4G mobile communication network such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE-Advanced, or a 5G mobile communication network.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of a WLAN system conforming to IEEE 802.11.

Referring to FIG. 2, the WLAN system conforming to IEEE 802.11 may include at least one basic service set (BSS). The BSS denotes a set of stations (STA 1, STA 2(AP 1), STA 3, STA 4, STA 5(AP 2), STA 6, STA 7, STA 8) which are successfully synchronized with each other and are capable of communicating with each other, and is not a concept meaning a specific area.

BSSs may be classified into an infrastructure BSS and an independent BSS (IBSS). Here, BSS 1 and BSS 2 denote infrastructure BSSs and BSS 3 denotes an IBSS.

BSS 1 may include a first terminal STA 1, a first access point STA 2 (AP 1) for providing a distribution service, and a distribution system (DS) for connecting multiple access points STA 2(AP 1) and STA 5(AP 2) to each other. In BSS 1, the first access point STA 2 (AP 1) may manage the first terminal STA 1.

BSS 2 may include a third terminal STA 3, a fourth terminal STA 4, a second access point STA 5 (AP 2)) for providing a distribution service, and a distribution system (DS) for connecting the multiple access points STA 2(AP 1) and STA 5(AP 2) to each other. In the BSS 2, the second access point STA 5 (AP 2) may manage the third terminal STA 3 and the fourth terminal STA 4.

BSS 3 denotes an IBSS operating in an ad-hoc mode. In the BSS 3, there is no access point that functions as a centralized management entity. That is, in the BSS 3, terminals STA 6, STA 7, and STA 8 are managed in a distributed manner. In the BSS 3, all of the terminals STA 6, STA 7, and STA 8 may denote mobile terminals, and access to the distribution system (DS) is not permitted, thus constituting a self-contained network.

The access points STA 2(AP 1) and STA 5(AP 2) may provide access to the distribution system (DS) via a wireless medium for the terminals STA 1, STA 3, and STA 4 connected thereto. Communication between the terminals STA 1, STA 3, and STA 4 in the BSS 1 or BSS 2 is generally performed via the access point STA 2 (AP 1) or STA 5 (AP 2), but direct communication may be performed between the terminals STA 1, STA 3, and STA 4 when a direct link is set up therebetween.

Multiple infrastructure BSSs may be connected to each other through the distribution system (DS). The multiple BSSs connected through the distribution system (DS) are called an extended service set (ESS). The entities included in the ESS, that is, STA 1, STA 2(AP 1), STA 3, STA 4, and STA 5(AP 2), are capable of communicating with each other, and any terminal STA 1, STA 3, or STA 4 may move from a single BSS to another BSS while performing seamless communication in the same ESS.

The distribution system (DS) is a mechanism for allowing one access point to communicate with another access point. In accordance with the DS, the access point may transmit frames for terminals coupled to a BSS managed thereby, or may transmit frames for any terminal that has moved to another BSS. Further, the access point may transmit and receive frames to and from an external network, such as a wired network. Such a DS is not necessarily a network and is not limited in its form as long as it is capable of providing a predetermined distribution service defined in the IEEE 802.11 standards. For example, the distribution system may be a wireless network such as a mesh network, or a physical structure for connecting the access points to each other.

Each terminal (STA) in the infrastructure BSS may be associated with an access point (AP). When associated with the access point (AP), the terminal (STA) may transmit and receive data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a terminal association procedure performed in an infrastructure BSS.

Referring to FIG. 3, the STA association procedure performed in the infrastructure IBSS may be chiefly divided into the step of probing an AP (probe step), the step of performing authentication with the probed AP (authentication step), and the step of associating with the AP with which authentication has been performed (association step).

The terminal (STA) may first probe neighboring APs using a passive scanning method or an active scanning method. When the passive scanning method is used, the terminal (STA) may probe neighboring APs by overhearing the beacons transmitted from the APs. When the active scanning method is used, the STA may probe neighboring APs by transmitting a probe request frame and receiving a probe response frame which is a response to the probe request frame from the APs.

When neighboring APs are detected, the STA may perform the step of performing authentication with each detected AP. In this case, the STA may perform the step of performing authentication with multiple APs. Authentication algorithms conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standards may be classified into an open system algorithm for exchanging two authentication frames with each other and a shared key algorithm for exchanging four authentication frames with each other.

Based on the authentication algorithms conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standards, the STA may transmit an authentication request frame and receive an authentication response frame, which is a response to the authentication request frame, from each AP, thus completing authentication with each AP.

When authentication has been completed, the STA may perform the step of associating with the AP. In this case, the STA may select a single AP from among the APs with which authentication has been performed, and may perform the step of associating with the selected AP. That is, the STA may transmit an association request frame to the selected AP and receive an association response frame, which is a response to the association request frame, from the selected AP, thus completing association with the selected AP.

The WLAN system denotes a local area network in which multiple communication entities conforming to the IEEE 802.11 standards may exchange data with each other in a wirelessly connected state.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the infrastructure BSS of a WLAN system.

Referring to FIG. 4, the infrastructure BSS may include a single access point (AP) and multiple terminals STA 1 and STA 2. The AP may transmit a beacon frame including a service set ID (SSID), which is a unique identifier, in a broadcast manner. The beacon frame may provide information about the presence and association of the AP to terminals that are not associated with the AP, and may notify the terminals associated with the AP of the presence of data that is transmitted to a specific terminal.

Each terminal that is not associated with the AP may probe the AP using a passive scanning method or an active scanning method, and may acquire association information from the probed AP. In the case of the passive scanning method, the terminal may probe the AP by receiving a beacon frame from the AP. In the case of the active scanning method, the terminal may probe the AP by transmitting a probe request frame and receiving a probe response frame, which is a response thereto, from the AP.

Each terminal that is not associated with the AP may attempt to perform authentication with a specific AP based on association information acquired from the beacon frame or the probe response frame. A terminal that has succeeded in authentication may transmit an association request frame to the corresponding AP, and the AP, having received the association request frame, may transmit an association response frame including the AID of the terminal to the terminal. Via the above procedure, the terminal may be associated with the AP.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a hierarchical AID structure.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the IEEE 802.11 standards, an AID having a hierarchical structure may be used to efficiently manage multiple terminals. An AID assigned to a single terminal may be composed of a page ID, a block index, a sub-block index, and a terminal index (STA index). The group to which the terminal belongs (i.e. a page group, a block group, or a sub-block group) may be identified using information about individual fields.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the structure of a traffic indication map (TIM) information element (IE).

Referring to FIG. 6, the TIM IE may include an element ID field, a length field, a delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) count field, a DTIM period field, a bitmap control field, and a partial virtual bitmap field. That is, the TIM IE includes information required to indicate a bit corresponding to the AID of a terminal when data to be transmitted to the terminal is buffered in the AP, and this information may be encoded into the bitmap control field and the partial virtual bitmap field.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the structure of a TIM encoded on a block basis.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the IEEE 802.11 standards, the TIM may be encoded on a block basis. A single encoding block may include a block control field, a block offset field, a block bitmap field, and at least one sub-block field.

The block control field may denote the encoding mode of the TIM. That is, the block control field may represent a block bitmap mode, a single AID mode, an offset+length+bitmap (OLB) mode, or an inverse bitmap mode. The block offset field may represent the offset of an encoded block. The block bitmap field may represent a bitmap indicating the location of the sub-block in which an AID bit is set. The sub-block bitmap field may represent a bitmap indicating the location of an AID in the sub-block.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing an embodiment of a data transmission/reception procedure.

Referring to FIG. 8, an access point (AP) may transmit a beacon frame including a TIM IE in a broadcast manner. A terminal (STA) operating in a power saving mode (PSM) may be awakened at intervals of a beacon period, in which a DTIM count becomes 0, and may receive a beacon frame. The terminal (STA) is configured to, when a bit corresponding to its AID is set to ‘1’ in the TIM included in the received beacon frame, transmit a power save (PS)-Poll frame (or a trigger frame) to the AP, thus notifying the AP that the STA is ready to receive data. Upon receiving the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame), the AP may transmit a data frame to the corresponding STA.

In the WLAN system, communication entities (i.e. access points, terminals, etc.) share a wireless channel and contend with other entities to access the wireless channel based on a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA)/collision avoidance (CA) scheme. First, each communication entity may check the occupied state of the wireless channel using a physical channel sensing scheme and a virtual channel sensing scheme before accessing the wireless channel.

The physical channel sensing scheme may be implemented via channel sensing, which detects whether energy of a predetermined level or more is present in the wireless channel. When energy of a predetermined level or more is detected using the physical channel sensing scheme, the terminal may determine that the wireless channel is occupied by another terminal, and thus may perform again channel sensing after waiting for a random backoff time. Meanwhile, when energy of less than a predetermined level is detected using the physical channel sensing scheme, the terminal may determine that the wireless channel is in an idle state, and may then access the corresponding wireless channel and transmit a signal through the wireless channel.

The virtual channel sensing scheme may be implemented by setting a predicted channel occupation time using a network allocation vector (NAV) timer. In the WLAN system, upon transmitting a frame, a communication entity may write the time required to complete the transmission of the corresponding frame in the duration field of the header of the frame. When normally receiving a certain frame through the wireless channel, the communication entity may set its own NAV timer based on a value in the duration field of the header of the received frame. When receiving a new frame before the NAV timer has expired, the communication entity may update the NAV timer based on the value in the duration field of the header of the newly received frame. When the NAV timer has expired, the communication entity may determine that the occupation of the wireless channel has been released, and may then contend for access to a wireless channel.

The communication entity may support multiple data rates of a physical layer depending on various modulation schemes and various channel coding rates. Generally, a high data rate for the physical layer enables a large amount of data to be transmitted during a short wireless channel occupation time, but requires high signal quality. In contrast, a low data rate for the physical layer enables data to be transmitted even at low signal quality, but requires a relatively long wireless channel occupation time.

Since the resources of the wireless channel are shared between communication entities, the overall capacity of the WLAN system may be increased only when the maximum amount of data is transmitted during the time for which a specific communication entity occupies the wireless channel. That is, the overall capacity of the WLAN system may be increased when the terminal transmits and receives data to and from the AP at the highest possible data rate for the physical layer. The highest data rate for the physical layer may be realized when signal quality is sufficiently secured owing to a short distance between the AP and the terminal. If the terminals are located far away from the AP, the data rate of the physical layer becomes low, thus resulting in the reduction of the overall capacity of the WLAN system.

In the WLAN system for providing a communication service to multiple sensor terminals located over a wide area, there may occur the case where data cannot be transmitted to the entire area using only the signal output of a single AP. That is, sensor terminals that cannot be supported with a communication service may be present. Meanwhile, since a low-power sensor terminal has low signal output, the range in which the WLAN system is capable of transmitting uplink data may be further narrowed.

In particular, since a terminal located in the coverage boundary of the AP exhibits poor signal quality, the terminal performs communication with the AP at a low data rate of the physical layer. Therefore, the overall capacity of the WLAN system is drastically decreased. Further, when using the low data rate of the physical layer, the low-power terminal must be awakened for a much longer time in order to transmit the same amount of data, thus increasing power consumption.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a WLAN system including relay devices.

Referring to FIG. 9, a master access point (master-AP: M-AP), a first relay device R1, a second relay device R2, and a fifth terminal STA 5 may constitute a master BSS. The first relay device R1, a first terminal STA 1, and a second terminal STA 2 may constitute a first relay BSS. The second relay device R2, a third terminal STA 3, and a fourth terminal STA 4 may constitute a second relay BSS. The relay devices R1 and R2 may be located at the place where signal quality between the master access point (M-AP) and the terminals STA 1, STA 2, STA 3, and STA 4 is deteriorated. The first relay device R1 may relay data transmitted between the master access point (M-AP) and the first and second terminals STA 1 and STA 2. The second relay device R2 may relay data transmitted between the master access point (M-AP) and the third and fourth terminals STA 3 and STA 4. That is, the physical area of the master access point (M-AP) may be extended via the relay devices R1 and R2.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the logical configuration of a relay device.

Referring to FIG. 10, the relay device may include a relay terminal (R-STA), functioning as a master access point (M-AP), and a relay access point (R-AP), functioning as an access point for terminals in an extended area.

The relay terminal (R-STA) may probe the master access point (M-AP) by receiving a beacon frame or a probe response frame transmitted from the master access point (M-AP) according to the same procedure as a normal terminal. Thereafter, the relay terminal (R-STA) may sequentially perform a procedure for authentication with the probed master access point (M-AP) and a procedure for association with the M-AP.

The relay terminal (R-STA) may relay data transmitted between the master access point (M-AP) and an end terminal. In this case, the relay terminal (R-STA) may relay data that is transmitted using a 4-address field. The 4-address field includes a destination address (DA) field indicating the address of the final destination of data, a source address (SA) field indicating the address of the place where the data was generated, a transmitter address (TA) field indicating the address of the communication entity that physically transmits a frame containing the data, and a receiver address (RA) field indicating the address of the communication entity that is to physically receive the frame containing the data.

For example, when desiring to transmit data to an end terminal via a relay device, the master access point (M-AP) may configure and transmit the header address field of a data frame as follows.

-   -   DA field: address of end terminal     -   SA field: address of master access point (M-AP)     -   TA field: address of master access point (M-AP)     -   RA field: address of relay device

The relay terminal (R-STA) may forward a data frame received from the relay access point (R-AP) to the master access point (M-AP), and may forward a data frame received from the master access point (M-AP) to the relay access point (R-AP).

When the relay terminal (R-STA) and the master access point (M-AP) are associated with each other and a transfer path is acquired, the relay access point (R-AP) may periodically transmit a beacon frame including an identifier (SSID) identical to that of the master access point (M-AP). Also, the relay access point (R-AP) may transmit a probe response frame in response to a probe request frame from the end terminal, transmit an authentication response frame in response to an authentication request frame from the end terminal, and transmit an association response frame in response to an association request frame from the end terminal. That is, the relay access point (R-AP) may perform the same function as the master access point (M-AP).

An end terminal located near the relay device may be connected to a relay-AP (R-AP) located closer to the end terminal than the master access point (M-AP) and may secure high signal quality, thus enabling data to be transmitted at a high data rate of the physical layer.

The relay access point (R-AP) may generate a beacon frame including an indicator indicating that the R-AP itself is a communication entity for relaying data transmitted between the master access point (M-AP) and the end terminal, and may transmit the generated beacon frame. Such an indicator may be defined either using one bit in the beacon frame or using the address field of the master access point (M-AP).

The relay access point (R-AP) may transmit a data frame using a 4-address field in the same way as the relay terminal (R-STA). Alternatively, the relay access point (R-AP) may transmit a data frame using a 3-address field (SA=TA, RA, and DA) when the SA field is identical to the TA field.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device.

Referring to FIG. 11, a master access point (M-AP) and a relay device R may constitute an M-BSS and the relay device R and a first terminal STA 1 may constitute an R-BSS. The master access point (M-AP) may periodically transmit a master beacon frame including a traffic indication map (TIM) in a broadcast manner. Generally, since the relay device R associated with the master access point (M-AP) is operated in an awake mode, the master access point (M-AP) may transmit a data frame to the relay device (R) at any time. Here, the master access point (M-AP) may transmit a data frame to the relay device R when a channel is in an idle state during a distributed interframe space (DIFS) and a contention window (CW) based on a random access procedure. When the data frame has been successfully received, the relay device R may transmit an acknowledge (ACK) frame, as a response to the data frame, to the master access point (M-AP).

Meanwhile, if it is determined that the data frame received from the master access point (M-AP) is a data frame to be transmitted to the first terminal STA 1, the relay device R may generate a TIM including the identifier information of the first terminal STA 1 (i.e. a TIM in which a bit corresponding to the AID of the STA 1 is set to ‘1’ may be generated), and may generate a relay beacon frame including the TIM. The relay device R may transmit the relay beacon frame in a broadcast manner.

The first terminal STA 1, having received the relay beacon frame, may recognize that its own AID is included in the TIM of the relay beacon frame (i.e., a bit corresponding to the AID of the first terminal STA 1 is set to ‘1’), and may then notify the relay device R that the first terminal STA 1 is ready to receive a data frame by transmitting a PS-Poll frame (or a trigger frame) to the relay device R. At this time, the first terminal STA 1 may transmit the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame) to the relay device R when the channel is in an idle state during a DIFS and a CW based on a random access procedure.

When the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame) is received, the relay device R may transmit an ACK frame as a response thereto and subsequently transmit a data frame to the first terminal STA 1, or may omit the transmission of an ACK frame and immediately transmit a data frame to the first terminal STA 1. When the data frame has been successfully received, the first terminal STA 1 may transmit an ACK frame, which is a response to the data frame, to the relay device R.

Meanwhile, the master access point may transmit data to the relay device on high power. Therefore, since a wireless link between the master access point and the relay device has high quality, the master access point may transmit data to the relay device at high speed. However, since the end terminal connected to the relay device is operated on low power, a wireless link between the relay device and the end terminal has low quality due to a limitation in the intensity of a transmitted signal, or the like. Therefore, the relay device cannot transmit data to the end terminal at high speed.

In particular, when the master access point transmits data to the end terminal via the relay device, the data may be transmitted from the master access point to the relay device at high speed because the relay device is operated in an awake mode. However, since the end terminal is operated in a power saving mode (PSM), the relay device may transmit data to the end terminal only when the end terminal is awakened. That is, the transmission of data from the relay device to the end terminal may be delayed. Therefore, during the procedure for transmitting downlink data via the relay device, data buffering may occur, and buffer overflows may occur in the relay device when a large amount of data is transmitted from the master access point to the relay device.

To prevent the loss of data caused by buffer overflows, the relay device may request the master access point to suspend or resume the transmission of downlink data.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, a master access point (M-AP) may constitute an M-BSS, and a relay device R may constitute an R-BSS. The master access point (M-AP) may periodically transmit a master beacon frame including a TIM in a broadcast manner (S100). Generally, since the relay device R is operated in an awake mode, the master access point (M-AP) is configured to, when it has data to be transmitted to the relay device R, transmit a data frame to the relay device R if a channel is in an idle state during a DIFS and a CW based on a random access procedure (S110).

The relay device R, having successfully received the data frame, may generate an ACK frame that requests the suspension of the transmission of a data frame when residual space is not present in a buffer and no more data frames can be received. That is, the relay device R may indicate that it is operated in a doze mode by setting a power management (PM) bit of a flow control (FC) field included in the MAC header of the ACK frame to ‘1’. The relay device R may transmit an ACK frame (i.e. PM bit=1), which is a response to the data frame, to the master access point (S120). After transmitting the ACK frame, the relay device R may not be actually operated in a doze mode. That is, the ACK frame may be used to notify the master access point (M-AP) that the relay device R is in the state in which no more data frames can be received.

When the ACK frame is received, the master access point (M-AP) may determine that the relay device R has successfully received the data frame. Further, the master access point (M-AP) may determine that the relay device R is operated in a doze mode because the PM bit of the ACK frame is set to ‘1’. That is, the master access point (M-AP) may determine that the relay device R is in the state in which no more data frames can be received. Therefore, the master access point (M-AP) may not transmit a data frame to the relay device R until the relay device R is capable of receiving a data frame (i.e. until the relay device R is operated in an awake mode).

Meanwhile, the master access point (M-AP) may periodically transmit a master beacon frame including a TIM in a broadcast manner (S130). If there is data to be transmitted to the relay device R, the master access point (M-AP) may generate a TIM including the identifier of the relay device R (i.e. a TIM in which a bit corresponding to the AID of the relay device R is set to ‘1’ may be generated), and may transmit a master beacon frame including the TIM in a broadcast manner (S140).

The relay device R, having received the master beacon frame, may recognize that data to be transmitted thereto is buffered in the master access point (M-AP) because the bit corresponding to the AID of the relay device R is set to ‘1’ in the TIM included in the master beacon frame. When residual space sufficient to receive a data frame is present in the buffer, the relay device R may generate a PS-Poll frame (or a trigger frame) that requests the resumption of the transmission of a data frame. That is, the relay device may indicate that it is operated in an awake mode by setting a PM bit of a FC field included in the MAC header of the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame) to ‘0’. The relay device R may transmit the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame) in which the PM bit is set to ‘0’ to the master access point (M-AP) (S150). At this time, the relay device R may transmit the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame) to the master access point (M-AP) when the channel is in an idle state during a DIFS and a CW based on a random access procedure.

When the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame) is received, the master access point (M-AP) may transmit an ACK frame, as a response thereto, to the relay device R (S160). Here, the master access point (M-AP) may determine that the relay device R is in the state in which data frames can be received (i.e. the state of an awake mode) because the PM bit of the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame) is set to ‘0’. Therefore, the master access point (M-AP) may transmit a data frame to the relay device R (S170). When the data frame is received, the relay device R may transmit an ACK frame, as a response thereto, to the master access point (M-AP) (S180).

Meanwhile, when it is determined that the data frame received from the master access point (M-AP) is a data frame to be transmitted to the end terminal belonging to the R-BSS, the relay device R may generate a TIM including the identifier information of the end terminal (i.e. a TIM in which a bit corresponding to the AID of the end terminal is set to ‘1’ may be generated), and may generate a relay beacon frame including the TIM. The relay device R may transmit the relay beacon frame in a broadcast manner.

The end terminal, having received the relay beacon frame, may recognize that its own AID is included in the TIM of the relay beacon frame (i.e. a bit corresponding to the AID of the end terminal is set to ‘1’), and may then notify the relay device R that the end terminal is ready to receive a data frame by transmitting a PS-Poll frame (or a trigger frame) to the relay device R. When the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame) is received, the relay device R may transmit an ACK frame as a response thereto and subsequently transmit a data frame to the end terminal or, alternatively, may omit the transmission of an ACK frame and immediately transmit a data frame to the end terminal. When the data frame has been successfully received, the end terminal may transmit an ACK frame, which is a response thereto, to the relay device R.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram showing a first data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram showing a second data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 16, a master access point (M-AP) may constitute an M-BSS, and a relay device R may constitute an R-BSS. The master access point (M-AP) may periodically transmit a master beacon frame including a TIM in a broadcast manner (S200).

Meanwhile, when residual space is not present in a buffer, and no more data frames can be received, the relay device R may generate a null data frame that requests the suspension of the transmission of a data frame. That is, the relay device R may indicate that it is operated in a doze mode by setting a PM bit of an FC field included in the MAC header of the null data frame to ‘1’. The relay device R may transmit the null data frame to the master access point (M-AP) when a channel is in an idle state during a DIFS and a contention window (CW) based on a random access procedure (S210). The relay device R may not be actually operated in a doze mode after transmitting the null data frame in which the PM bit is set to ‘1’. That is, the null data frame may be used to notify the master access point (M-AP) that the relay device R is in the state in which no more data frames can be received.

When the null data frame is received, the master access point (M-AP) may transmit an ACK frame, as a response thereto, to the relay device R (S220). The master access point (M-AP) may determine that the relay device R is operated in a doze mode because the PM bit of the null data frame is set to ‘1’. That is, the master access point (M-AP) may determine that the relay device R is in the state in which no more data frames can be received. Therefore, the master access point (M-AP) may not transmit a data frame to the relay device R until the relay device R is capable of receiving a data frame (i.e. until the relay device R is operated in an awake mode).

Meanwhile, the master access point (M-AP) may periodically transmit a master beacon frame including a TIM in a broadcast manner (S230). When there is data to be transmitted to the relay device R, the master access point (M-AP) may generate a TIM including the identifier of the relay device R (i.e. a TIM in which a bit corresponding to the AID of the relay device R is set to ‘1’ may be generated), and may transmit a master beacon frame including the TIM in a broadcast manner (S240).

The relay device R, having received the master beacon frame, may recognize that data to be transmitted thereto is buffered in the master access point (M-AP) because a bit corresponding to the AID of the relay device R is set to ‘1’ in the TIM included in the master beacon frame. When residual space sufficient to receive a data frame is present in the buffer, the relay device R may generate a null data frame that requests the resumption of the transmission of a data frame. That is, the relay device R may indicate that it is operated in an awake mode by setting a PM bit of an FC field included in the MAC header of the null data frame to ‘0’. The relay device R may transmit the null data frame in which the PM bit is set to ‘0’ to the master access point (M-AP)(S250). At this time, the relay device R may transmit the null data frame to the master access point (M-AP) when a channel is in an idle state during a DIFS and a CW based on a random access procedure.

Alternatively, the relay device R may generate, instead of a null data frame, a PS-Poll frame (or a trigger frame) that requests the resumption of the transmission of a data frame. That is, the relay device R may indicate that it is operated in an awake mode by setting a PM bit of an FC field included in the MAC header of the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame) to ‘0’. The relay device R may transmit the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame) in which the PM bit is set to ‘0’ to the master access point (M-AP).

When the null data frame (or the PS-Poll frame or the trigger frame) is received, the master access point (M-AP) may transmit an ACK frame, as a response thereto, to the relay device R (S260). At this time, the master access point (M-AP) may determine that the relay device R is in the state in which data frames can be received (i.e. the state of a awake mode) because the PM bit of the null data frame (or the PS-Poll frame or the trigger frame) is set to ‘0’. Therefore, the master access point (M-AP) may transmit a data frame to the relay device R (S270). When the data frame is received, the relay device R may transmit an ACK frame, as a response thereto, to the master access point (M-AP) (S280).

Meanwhile, if it is determined that the data frame received from the master access point (M-AP) is a data frame to be transmitted to the end terminal belonging to the R-BSS, the relay device R may generate a TIM including the identifier information of the end terminal (i.e. a TIM in which a bit corresponding to the AID of the end terminal is set to ‘1’ may be generated), and may generate a relay beacon frame including the TIM. The relay device R may transmit the relay beacon frame in a broadcast manner.

The end terminal, having received the relay beacon frame, may recognize that its own AID is included in the TIM of the relay beacon frame (i.e. a bit corresponding to the AID of the end terminal is set to ‘1’), and may then notify the relay device R that the end terminal is ready to receive a data frame by transmitting a PS-Poll frame (or a trigger frame) to the relay device R. When the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame) is received, the relay device R may transmit an ACK frame as a response thereto and subsequently transmit a data frame to the end terminal or, alternatively, may omit the transmission of an ACK frame and immediately transmit a data frame to the end terminal. When the data frame has been successfully received, the end terminal may transmit an ACK frame, which is a response thereto, to the relay device R.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to a further embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 18 is a conceptual diagram showing a data transmission method in a WLAN system including a relay device according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, a master access point (M-AP) may constitute an M-BSS and a relay device R may constitute an R-BSS. The master access point (M-AP) may periodically transmit a master beacon frame including a TIM in a broadcast manner (S300). Meanwhile, the relay device R may generate a transmission suspend frame that requests the suspension of the transmission of a data frame when residual space is not present in a buffer and no more data frames can be received.

The following Table 1 shows the values and meanings of a relay action field used in a transmission suspend frame and in a transmission resume frame that requests the resumption of the transmission of a data frame.

TABLE 1 Field value Meaning 1 Data transmission suspend 2 Data transmission resume 3-255 Reserved

The following Table 2 shows the configuration of a transmission suspend frame.

TABLE 2 Sequence Information 1 Action category (relay device) 2 Relay action (data transmission suspend) 3 Suspend duration

The transmission suspend frame may include an action category field and a relay action (data transmission suspend) field. Also, the transmission suspend frame may further include a suspend duration field. The action category field may indicate that a certain action is the operation of the relay device R, the relay action field may indicate that the suspension of the transmission of a data frame is requested, and the suspend duration field may indicate a suspend duration during which the transmission of a data frame is suspended.

That is, the relay device R may generate a transmission suspend frame that includes an action category field indicating its own operation and a relay action field indicating that the suspension of the transmission of a data frame is requested. Alternatively, the relay device may generate a transmission suspend frame that includes an action category field indicating its own operation, a relay action field indicating that the suspension of the transmission of a data frame is requested, and a suspend duration field indicating a suspend duration (interval) during which the transmission of a data frame is suspended.

The relay device R may transmit the transmission suspend frame to the master access point (M-AP) (S310). When the transmission suspend frame is received, the master access point (M-AP) may determine that the relay device R is in the state in which no more data frames can be received. Therefore, the master access point (M-AP) may not transmit a data frame to the relay device R until the relay device R is capable of receiving a data frame. That is, the master access point (M-AP) may not transmit a data frame to the relay device R until a transmission resume frame that requests the resumption of the transmission of a data frame is received from the relay device R. Further, when a suspend duration field is included in the transmission suspend frame, the master access point (M-AP) may not transmit a data frame to the relay device R during a suspend duration indicated by the suspend duration field. If the suspend duration indicated by the suspend duration field has elapsed, the master access point (M-AP) may transmit a data frame to the relay device R even before a transmission resume frame is received from the relay device R.

Meanwhile, the master access point (M-AP) may periodically transmit a master beacon frame including a TIM in a broadcast manner (S320). If there is data to be transmitted to the relay device R, the master access point (M-AP) may generate a TIM including the identifier of the relay device R (i.e. a TIM in which a bit corresponding to the AID of the relay device R is set to ‘1’ may be generated), and may transmit a master beacon frame including the TIM in a broadcast manner (S330).

The relay device R, having received the master beacon frame, may recognize that data to be transmitted thereto is buffered in the master access point (M-AP) because the bit corresponding to the AID of the relay device R is set to ‘1’ in the TIM included in the master beacon frame. When residual space sufficient to receive a data frame is present in the buffer, the relay device R may generate a transmission resume frame that requests the resumption of the transmission of a data frame.

The following Table 3 shows the configuration of a transmission resume frame.

TABLE 3 Sequence Information 1 Action category (relay device) 2 Relay action (data transmission resume)

The transmission resume frame may include an action category field and a relay action (data transmission resume) field. The action category field may indicate that a certain action is the operation of the relay device R, and the relay action field may indicate that the resumption of the transmission of a data frame is requested. That is, the relay device R may generate a transmission resume frame that includes an action category field indicating its own operation, and a relay action field indicating that the resumption of the transmission of a data frame is requested.

The relay device R may transmit the transmission resume frame to the master access point (M-AP) (S340). Further, when a transmission suspend frame including a suspend duration field has been transmitted, the relay device R may transmit a transmission resume frame to the master access point (M-AP) even before the suspend duration indicated by the suspend duration field elapses. When the transmission resume frame is received, the master access point (M-AP) may determine that the relay device R is in the state in which a data frame can be received. Therefore, the master access point (M-AP) may transmit a data frame to the relay device R (S350). When the data frame is received, the relay device R may transmit an ACK frame, as a response thereto, to the master access point (M-AP) (S360).

Meanwhile, when it is determined that the data frame received from the master access point (M-AP) is a data frame to be transmitted to the end terminal belonging to the R-BSS, the relay device R may generate a TIM including the identifier information of the end terminal (i.e. a TIM in which a bit corresponding to the AID of the end terminal is set to ‘1’ may be generated), and may generate a relay beacon frame including the TIM. The relay device R may transmit the relay beacon frame in a broadcast manner.

The end terminal, having received the relay beacon frame, may recognize that its own AID is included in the TIM of the relay beacon frame (i.e. a bit corresponding to the AID of the end terminal is set to ‘1’), and may then notify the relay device R that the end terminal is ready to receive a data frame by transmitting a PS-Poll frame (or a trigger frame) to the relay device R. When the PS-Poll frame (or the trigger frame) is received, the relay device R may transmit an ACK frame as a response thereto and subsequently transmit a data frame to the end terminal or, alternatively, may omit the transmission of an ACK frame and immediately transmit a data frame to the end terminal. When the data frame has been successfully received, the end terminal may transmit an ACK frame, which is a response thereto, to the relay device R.

In accordance with the present invention, a master access point may extend a service area via a relay device. Since a terminal may secure a good quality link via the relay device, data can be transmitted at high speed. That is, the relay device is used, and thus the efficiency of use of a wireless channel may be improved and the amount of power consumed by the terminal may be reduced.

Further, when residual space is not present in a buffer, the relay device may request the master access point to suspend the transmission of data. By means of this, buffer overflows may be prevented from occurring in the relay device.

The embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in the form of program instructions that are executable via various types of computer means, and may be recorded on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, and data structures solely or in combination. Program instructions recorded on the computer-readable medium may have been specially designed and configured for the embodiments of the present invention, or may be known to or available to those who have ordinary knowledge in the field of computer software.

Examples of the computer-readable storage medium include all types of hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program instructions, such as read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), and flash memory. The hardware devices may be configured to operate as one or more software modules in order to perform the operation according to embodiments of the present invention, and vice versa. Examples of the program instructions include machine language code, such as code created by a compiler, and high-level language code executable by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be modified and changed in various forms, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for data transmission being performed by a relay device for relaying data transmitted between a master access point and an end terminal, comprising: generating, in response to the relay device having insufficient space to receive a data frame, a suspend request frame that requests suspension of transmission of the data frame from the master access point to the relay device; transmitting the suspend request frame to the master access point; generating a resume request frame that requests resumption of transmission of the data frame from the master access point to the relay device when the space of the relay device is changed to a space sufficient for receiving the data frame; and transmitting the resume request frame to the master access point, wherein the suspend request frame is a null data frame that includes information indicating that the relay device is operated in a doze mode.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspend request frame is an acknowledge (ACK) frame that is a response to a data frame received from the master access point.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspend request frame includes information about a suspend duration during which transmission of a data frame is suspended.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a data frame, as a response to the resume request frame, from the master access point; and transmitting an acknowledge (ACK) frame, as a response to the data frame, to the master access point.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the resume request frame is a power save (PS)-Poll frame or a trigger frame indicating that the relay device is operated in an awake mode.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the resume request frame is a null data frame that includes information indicating that the relay device is operated in an awake mode.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the resume request frame to the master access point is configured to transmit the resume request frame to the master access point when it is determined that data to be transmitted to the relay device is buffered in the master access point, based on a beacon frame received from the master access point. 